Catholic Conference doesn’t trust chapter amendments

Here’s the statement from the state Catholic Conference, which seems to suggest that Senate Republicans might be careless enough to allow a vote on same-sex marriage without first securing assurances from the Assembly and Gov. Andrew Cuomo that a chapter amendment bill solidifying religious protections would be signed into law along with it:

Sources today are indicating that discussions on religious protection language in the same-sex “marriage” legislation may now be focusing on passage of a “chapter amendment.” This disturbing news gives great cause for alarm among those who seek genuine protections for the deeply held religious beliefs and mission of individuals and organizations in this state.

Chapter amendments are separate pieces of legislation used to clean up or correct mistakes or problems with previously enacted laws. Use of a chapter amendment in the context of same-sex “marriage” legislation is an empty promise. Language that cannot be secured in the body of same-sex marriage legislation cannot be secured in a separate piece of legislation. This should be obvious. There is no reasonable expectation that the Assembly would support passage of a Senate chapter amendment to offer genuine religious liberty protection once a same-sex “marriage” bill is signed into law.